PHOTO ESSAY

Blacks in Politics, Part 2

With the motto "Black People have no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, just permanent interests" the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) designs and implements programs beneficial not only to African Americans, but to all persons in need. The CBC was established in 1971 by Shirley Chisholm, William Clay, George Collins, John Conyers, Ronald Dellums, Charles Diggs, Augustus Hawkins, Ralph Metcalfe, Parren Mitchell, Robert Nix, Charles Rangel, Louis Stokes, and Walter Fauntroy. On 6 Jan 2001 members of the CBC made headlines as they attempted to call attention to the disfranchisement of African American voters in Florida. When members of the House were called to certify the votes of the Electoral College in order to instate George W. Bush as president, a dozen members of the CBC protested and attempted to have the votes thrown out. Despite their objections, the electoral votes from Florida were counted and George W. Bush was installed as the 43rd President of the United States. Shortly after this photograph was taken, members of the CBC dramatically left the floor in protest, to the scattered applause of fellow House members.